Two books tell histories of innovation in Hollywood but reach very different conclusions.
The story of Hollywood is a story of successful technical innovation
Inventing the Movies a new book by journalist Scott Kirsner, advances this thesis: “From Edison to the iPod, from the Warner Brothers to George Lucas, the story of how the movies became America’s favorite form of escapist entertainment — and retained their hold on our imaginations for more than a century — is a story of innovators prevailing again and again over skeptics who prefer to preserve the status quo.
“In Inventing the Movies, Scott Kirsner unspools a never-before-told story of innovators who shaped Hollywood:
- How a chance meeting at the Saratoga Race Track led to the end of black-and-white movies;
- How Bing Crosby brought you the VCR;
- How Walt Disney tamed television;
- How a shotgun blast signaled the end of hand-made models and the beginning of digital special effects;
- And how even the almighty Morgan Freeman had trouble persuading theater owners that the Internet wasn’t their mortal enemy.
“Inventing the Movies is an important read, not just for fans of Hollywood’s history, but for innovators trying to make change happen — in any industry.” The author, journalist Scott Kirsner, blogs Hollywood at Cinema Tech. [Inventing the Movies: Hollywood's Epic Battle Between Innovation and the Status Quo, from Thomas Edison to Steve Jobs, by Scott Kirsner]
To the contrary: Misunderstanding Media
For a contrary history, which holds that Hollywood has prospered by successfully retarding innovation for as long as possible — read Misunderstanding Media by Brian Winston.
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